Liang Yan followed Lin Fei into the valley, where he saw clear waters, lush mountains, and drifting colorful clouds. Various buildings were hidden among the landscape; though they appeared to be distributed without order, they gave the impression of a paradise, a realm beyond the mundane world.
At this moment, Lin Fei said to him, "Our sect holds selection tests for outer disciples every February, and the recruitment period has already passed. However, I happen to be heading to report my mission to the Pavilion Master, so I will take you with me. As long as the Pavilion Master gives her consent, your entry into the sect will be easily settled."
Liang Yan naturally had no objections, so he followed Lin Fei deeper into the valley.
After walking for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense and passing through a lotus pond, an antique-style building stood before them. Although it lacked the ornate carvings and painted beams of worldly mansions, it exuded a sense of primitive grandeur that made one feel a sense of awe at first glance. A plaque hung above the main entrance, inscribed with the three characters: "Deliberation Pavilion." Liang Yan secretly guessed that the materials used for this building were certainly not of the mundane world.
Lin Fei respectfully straightened his clothes before leading the group inside.
More than a dozen people were already waiting in the main hall. Liang Yan looked up and found that most of them were at the Foundation Establishment stage; only four individuals had cultivation levels he could not fathom. He thought to himself, "Although the old monk's cultivation method has its merits, my current strength is too low. At most, I can only see through those at the Foundation Establishment stage; anything higher is beyond me. Hmm, these four must have already broken through Foundation Establishment and reached the legendary Yuan-Gathering stage."
As he was thinking this, he suddenly felt a cold gaze sweep over him. He realized a woman was sitting at the back of the hall. She appeared to be about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, dressed in purple robes and a skirt. Her face was dignified, her expression cold and sharp. As her gaze swept over him, cold sweat broke out on the back of Liang Yan's neck, as if all his secrets were laid bare before her.
"How formidable. This person is definitely not comparable to the others in the hall. Her cultivation has likely reached a realm beyond the Yuan-Gathering stage." Thinking this, Liang Yan lowered his head in silence, not daring to meet her eyes again.
At this time, a middle-aged man in gray robes in the hall spoke up: "Lin Fei, you have quite the ego. Today was the agreed-upon day to return to the sect. All the fellow disciples responsible for hosting the various exchange meetings have arrived, except for you, who is late. Do you expect everyone to wait for you here?"
Liang Yan looked toward the voice; the speaker was one of the four whose cultivation he could not fathom. The woman in purple sitting at the head of the hall also turned her gaze toward Lin Fei, her eyes filled with inquiry.
Lin Fei said respectfully to the woman in purple, "Reporting to the Pavilion Master, it is not that this disciple intended to delay, but I brought a junior along the way. The speed of flying while carrying someone could not be too fast, which is why our return was delayed. I ask the Pavilion Master to forgive me."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall turned their eyes to Liang Yan. Clearly, there was no need for further explanation; the junior Lin Fei spoke of was undoubtedly Liang Yan.
The woman in purple remained silent, her gaze lingering on Liang Yan for a moment before returning to Lin Fei, clearly waiting for his follow-up.
Lin Fei continued, "When I was training in the Mangyun Mountains years ago, I was besieged by several Six-Clawed Nether Wolves and poisoned by their venom. I was fortunate that a senior happened to pass by and saved my life, even extracting the wolf venom for me. If not for that senior, even if I had survived, my cultivation would likely have made no progress for the rest of my life. This time, when I went out to host the Cuishan Auction, that senior found me and asked me to introduce this child to the sect. I am deeply indebted to him and could not refuse. I ask the Pavilion Master to consider this."
The woman in purple remained indifferent and cold, only nodding slightly. "So there is such a connection."
Lin Fei hurriedly said to Liang Yan, "Liang Yan, why don't you pay your respects to the Pavilion Master!"
Liang Yan stepped forward, bowed to the woman in purple, and said in a clear voice, "Disciple Liang Yan, greets the Pavilion Master!"
"No need for formalities." The woman in purple didn't even look at him, speaking coldly to Lin Fei: "Hmph, a mere Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root, and you want to recommend him to my Pavilion? What does this senior you speak of take my Yixing Pavilion for? Is it a place where any trash can come?"
Upon hearing this, a surge of anger flared in Liang Yan's mind. He was naturally headstrong and would usually have lashed out. But with high-level cultivators all around him, any one of whom could turn him to dust with a flick of a finger, he had to grit his teeth and suppress his rage. Even Lin Fei looked embarrassed.
Fortunately, the woman in purple continued, "However, every cause has an effect. Since that person saved a disciple of our Pavilion, it would invite ridicule from outsiders if I didn't give him some face." Saying this, she turned her gaze to Liang Yan.
Liang Yan knew there was a turning point, so he held his breath and waited for what was next.
Sure enough, the woman in purple said slowly, "Your spirit roots are hopelessly impure; you will likely never even break through to the third level of Qi Refining in this lifetime. However, my Yixing Pavilion has three branches and four paths. If you feel you have talent in any of these, you may choose one to join as a servant disciple. We will set a term of six years. If, after six years, you can prove your value to the sect, you will naturally be approved to enter the outer sect to cultivate and enjoy all the resources and treatment of an outer disciple. But if you have no talent, then get off the mountain."
After saying this, without waiting for Liang Yan's reply, she waved her hand at the beautiful woman in blue who had accompanied Lin Fei, her face showing clear impatience.
The beautiful woman in blue understood, bowed, and led Liang Yan out of the hall.
Liang Yan did not say a word until they were outside under the blue sky, at which point he let out a breath of frustration.
Seeing his expression, the beautiful woman in blue said, "You don't need to take it too much to heart. The cultivation world is built on strength; the strong are respected. Actually, if you think about it, although your aptitude is poor, being under the protection of the sect is better than suffering in the mundane world."
Although Liang Yan didn't care much for her words, he knew she was trying to comfort him, so he thanked her: "Thank you for your guidance, Senior. But may I ask what the three branches and four paths the Pavilion Master mentioned refer to?"
The beautiful woman in blue smiled slightly. "You don't need to call me Senior. Since you have entered the sect, even as a servant disciple, you may call me Uncle-Master Zhou. As for the three branches and four paths you asked about, the three branches refer to the Alchemy Branch, the Talisman Branch, and the Array Branch, while the four paths are the paths of Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting."
"I see!"
Liang Yan looked enlightened, thinking to himself, "That old hag said I must prove my worth to the sect in six years to be accepted. These four paths of Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting are all about self-cultivation; in terms of contribution to the sect, they certainly cannot compare to alchemists, talisman masters, or array masters. I once heard the old monk mention that alchemists need to refine their own alchemy fire, which has extremely high requirements for entry. It would be very difficult for me to achieve anything in six years. As for the talisman masters, it requires a calm personality and a heart like still water, which I fear I cannot achieve. It seems I can only try the path of arrays."
Having made up his mind, Liang Yan said, "Uncle-Master Zhou, this disciple wishes to join the Array Branch."
Uncle-Master Zhou looked at him with a strange expression. After hesitating, she said, "Although it is your choice, you are, after all, a junior brought by Lin Fei, so I must explain this to you. Although our Pavilion's founder, the Yixing Master, was known for his mastery of both chess and arrays, the path of arrays has gradually declined over the thousand years since the sect's founding, and few can comprehend it now. The Array Branch is sparsely populated, far less than the Talisman or Alchemy branches. If you ask me, you should choose one of the other two."
"So that's the situation..." Liang Yan pondered for a moment before saying, "Uncle-Master Zhou, my mind is made up. I have a particular fondness for the path of arrays. I beg you to lead me to the Array Branch."
"Very well," Uncle-Master Zhou sighed and said, "Follow me."
Within the Yixing Pavilion valley, in a secluded apricot grove, stood a pavilion with red bricks and green tiles, its design antique. Under each of the eight corners of the eaves hung a bell, which would chime from time to time with the breeze in the apricot grove, sounding like warbling orioles.
In front of the pavilion was a large yellow wooden table, on which a middle-aged man was sprawled, wearing yellow robes with long sleeves, a broad nose, thick lips, and an unusually high forehead. He was fast asleep.
Suddenly, his large ears twitched slightly. He lifted his head and looked forward to see two figures emerging from the end of the apricot grove path—a man and a woman, Liang Yan and Uncle-Master Zhou.
The middle-aged man in yellow was startled and immediately stood up, rushing toward them. When he reached them, he bowed to Uncle-Master Zhou and said, "This servant disciple deacon greets the Uncle-Master. I did not know you were coming, and I failed to welcome you properly. It is truly..."
"Enough, enough!" Uncle-Master Zhou waved her hand impatiently to interrupt him and said coldly, "I have brought him here to join the Array Branch as a servant disciple." She pointed at Liang Yan.
The middle-aged man in yellow was slightly stunned, then looked at Liang Yan and said, "I didn't expect the Array Branch to have a new servant disciple. Hehe, don't worry, Uncle-Master, I will certainly get him started as soon as possible."
Uncle-Master Zhou nodded slightly, raised her right hand, and a parchment scroll flew into Liang Yan's hand. She then said to Liang Yan, "From now on, you are a servant disciple of the Array Branch of my Yixing Pavilion. This is the map of our sect. Tomorrow morning, go to the Rites Pavilion and the Law Pavilion to register and receive our sect's manual of rules. You must strictly abide by the rules from now on. If you violate them, the law-enforcement disciples will arrest and punish you severely. Do you understand?"
Liang Yan's expression tightened, and he replied respectfully, "This disciple understands!"
Uncle-Master Zhou nodded with satisfaction and turned to leave.
The middle-aged man surnamed Wang watched Uncle-Master Zhou walk out of the apricot grove before turning to look at Liang Yan. The gentle look on his face vanished, and he asked with a straight face, "What is your name? Do you have any family elders or siblings in the sect?"
Liang Yan was stunned and answered truthfully, "My name is Liang Yan, and I have no relatives cultivating in the sect."
Upon hearing this, a flash of contempt appeared in the middle-aged man's eyes. He took a wooden tablet from his sleeve, channeled spiritual power into his fingertips to write on it, returned to the table where he had been sleeping, took a seal, stamped it on the tablet, and threw it to Liang Yan.
"This is your servant disciple identity token. Starting tomorrow, report here every morning. You must chop fifty bundles of spiritual wood, fetch ten vats of water from the spiritual spring, and then clean the Library Pavilion behind me. If you fail to complete the tasks, I have my own punishments. Hmph, remember this: my name is Wang Yuan, and I am in charge of everything here, big or small. Do you understand?"
Liang Yan took the token and saw it was a rough wooden tablet with the words "Servant Disciple" written on the back and "Liang Yan" on the front, with a dark red seal stamped below. He thought to himself, "This immortal token is too ordinary."
However, he still bowed and said, "This disciple will do his best to complete the tasks."
"Hmm," Wang Yuan added, "There is a residence to the northwest of the apricot grove where you servant disciples live. You can use this identity token to break the restrictions of the outer courtyard. Go inside and choose a room for yourself to live in." Having said this, he ignored him and returned to the table, closing his eyes to rest.
Liang Yan took the token, bid farewell to Senior Brother Wang, and walked toward the northwest residence. Before long, he saw a gray-brown courtyard with about a dozen rooms. Having practiced the "Mixed-Qi Technique" for a long time, Liang Yan's senses were sharper than ordinary people's. From afar, he could see that only two of the dozen rooms had their doors closed, while the others were wide open and empty, causing him to smile bitterly.
"It seems the Array Branch is indeed in decline."